Some Firefighters Won't Get to Celebrate the 4th of July

   Thousands of firefighters from across California, and some from out of state, will be seeing fireworks tomorrow, but not the fun kind they would like to see.  Nor will they have a chance to relax at BBQs or picnics with family and friends.  That's because they will be on the front lines fighting the countless wildfires that continue to burn in various parts of California and other states, the biggest currently in the Big Sur area (Los Padres National Forest.)  
 Tomorrow the firefighters my city will hold their annual pancake breakfast, a fundraiser for their firemen's fund.  The breakfast is in conjunction with our county's big 4th of July parade, which attracts local dignitaries, service groups, and performances from the likes of {ugh} the Stanford "band".
 With that inspiration, I'd like to hold a virtual "pancake breakfast" fundraiser for firefighters and other groups involved in helping fire victims.

 I realize people are strapped for money these days, what with the state of the economy, pleas for helping flood and tornado victims in the midwest, as well as contributions to candidates (especially Darcy Burner, herself a fire victim.)  However, if you can spare a few bucks, listed below are some groups that help fire victims (human, animal, and/or plant.)  Note that some of the groups below need volunteers as well, so if you can't spare money, perhaps you have a few spare hours to give them.

 Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing burns and fires and providing services to those who have been affected by a burn injury. AARBF brings together health care providers, firefighters, emergency workers, burn survivors and others to enhance the quality of life for burn survivors and to make burn injuries a thing of the past.

Noah's Wish rescues animals during disasters.  They recently helped with the fire in Butte County.

Los Padres Forest Association (Big Sur)

The LPFA is the official non-profit cooperating association for the Los Padres National Forest. LPFA Volunteers provide a number of needed services ranging from wilderness patrol to acting as site stewards for our precious heritage resources to helping us take care of our trails to providing interpretive and educational services at our visitor centers.

Mendocino Area Parks Association

California State Parks Foundation

Tree People helps replant trees and other plants in areas devastated by fire in order to reduce soil erosion.

The California Native Plant Society also does replantings in some areas.

Paradise fire victims(Chico) -

The nonprofit Paradise Disaster Relief Fund is accepting donations to support fire victims and disaster response organizations. Checks should be made out to Paradise Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, and can be mailed to P.O. Box 2095, Paradise, CA, 95967, or dropped off at the  Paradise Community Foundation, 6249 Skyway from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 876-8033

Checks can be mailed to the nonprofit North Valley Community Foundation in Chico. Donors can choose to contribute to Humboldt Fire Victims' Fund for victims, Humboldt Fire Disaster Response Fund for nonprofits responding to fire; and the North Valley Animal Disaster Group Fund for that organization. Checks can be sent directly to NVCF, 3120 Cohasset Road Suite 8, Chico, CA, 95973, charged by credit card online at www.nvcf.org or call 891-1150.

Donations can be made directly to the North Valley Animal Disaster Group by calling 895-0000, or mailing checks made out to NVADG, to P.O. Box 441, Chico, CA, 95927.

 

 This list is by no means exhaustive.  I left off "name" charities (Eg. American Red Cross) because I figured most people already knew about them, or could look easily them up on their own.